Vib Ribbon to Release on PlayStation 3, Vita

The PlayStation classic Vib Ribbon will soon be available for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.

A rhythm-based game first available on the original PlayStation, Vib Ribbon was a unique game capable of building entire levels around the music in one's CD player. It was never formally released in North America, instead only being commercially available in Japan and Europe. Although none of it was shown off on stage, it was briefly discussed by Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Shawn Layden during Sony's E3 press conference.

According to Layden, who worked with Sony on bringing games from Japan to Europe at the time of Vib Ribbon's release, marketing departments couldn't find a way to sell the game to Western consumers, leaving them leery of making it availble outside of Japan. Still, he and his team persisted and eventually Vib Ribbon was released in Europe.

"I would like to give you all the chance to celebrate this iconoclastic title by bringing to all fans, worldwide, the chance to experience the original Vib Ribbon. As a result of the “outpouring of love” at the E3 name drops, our engineers have developed a way to bring Vibri to life on PS3 and PS Vita," he said, noting that the PlayStation 3 version will be compatible with the player's CDs, and that teams are still working on a version for PlayStation 4.

Layden also spoke about the random E3 on-stage name drop, explaining that he never meant to offend people by mentioning it.

Exit Theatre Mode

"It was not my intention to rub salt in the Vib Ribbon wound, but to express my admiration for it as the genre-busting title it is and was. My mistake was that I had assumed that everyone who had been around in the original PlayStation era would have had their chance to play the game. I had forgotten that the American gamer was effectively denied the opportunity. To mention it at E3 was to delight some and to squirt lemon in the eyes of others. For this, I apologize. It was not my intent to dangle the delight of Vibri in front of those who longed for but could not have. It was to make a point about having the courage, and talent, to break the mold."

Vib Ribbon will be made available as soon as tomorrow, October 7 for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. No specific price has been mentioned, although Layden has said it will sell for "a price attractive to both Vibri virgins and the rare few amongst you who found a way to experience the Singing Spline back in the day."

Cassidee is a freelance writer for various outlets around the web. You can chat with her about all things geeky onTwitter.